Audi A2 Timing belt change

oweneades · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:36

Hi all, I have a quick query to anyone who has had experience with this subject.

I have been told after a recent service of my 02 plate audi A2 1.4 TDI that it is due for a timing belt change. The car has only done 28k since new so is relatively low mileage for its age. However I take it needs the change due to the age of the car rather than the amount of miles it has done.

Anyway my query is what sort of price am I looking at (rough ball park figure).

The garage seemed to have no clue which I found a bit strange seeing as they just serviced the car and are capable of servicing this part. :confused:

Just to let you know it will be done at a VW/audi specialist garage rather than a main dealer as I am not paying their ridiculous prices.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Happy easter all!

merlin · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:41

This always makes me wonder. So the belt needs changing because it's old - and not because of the work it's done.

Right - so clearly these things age do they?

That case - I hope they give you a belt that's litterally just come out of the factory rather than giving you one off their shelves that might have been sat there for 12 months.

Ask the Audi specialists what they think - they may well say leave it till 45k or whatever.

Tesla · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:45

merlin said:
This always makes me wonder. So the belt needs changing because it's old - and not because of the work it's done.

Right - so clearly these things age do they?

That case - I hope they give you a belt that's litterally just come out of the factory rather than giving you one off their shelves that might have been sat there for 12 months.

Ask the Audi specialists what they think - they may well say leave it till 45k or whatever.

The reason they need changing is rubber reacts to air and temperature change. This is why they are sealed in packets at the factory.

Ever left a rubber band outside?

oweneades · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:45

merlin said:
This always makes me wonder. So the belt needs changing because it's old - and not because of the work it's done.

Right - so clearly these things age do they?

That case - I hope they give you a belt that's litterally just come out of the factory rather than giving you one off their shelves that might have been sat there for 12 months.

Ask the Audi specialists what they think - they may well say leave it till 45k or whatever.

This is exactly why I am asking the question as surely as the car hasn't done as many miles it hasn't been 'used' as much as a car which has done more miles regardless of age.

I am kind of stumped as to why it needs to be changed now as most cars I have seen (inlcuding my old astra 1.6 8v) only needed it changed around 40k +.

EDIT: Telsa just seen your reply, that would make sense. I think I will have a trawl around on some car forums for any info.

If anyone has any quotes they were given please let me know a ball park figure. (I am short this moneth due to changing jobs so I hope it won't be a cripling amount)

cheers all

blueboy2001 · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:47

Its not so much just the age of the belt, but rubber degrades from heat, contamination with oil and engine bay muck etc which over a few years will weaken it. Belts very rarely wear out through normal running. How old is it? They should be fine for over 5 yrs, some manufacturers say 10.

IIRC the A2 requires a substantial part of the front of the car to be removed to get at anything significant in the engine bay so I would guess the labour would be a big cost.

merlin · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:50

Tesla said:
The reason they need changing is rubber reacts to air and temperature change. This is why they are sealed in packets at the factory.

Ever left a rubber band outside?

Good point, although it's not exactly a rubber band.

Ask the experts, meaning an independant expert rather than an idiot dealer expert.

merlin · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:52

Although my missus's car has tyres on it that are over 3 years old and they dont appear to be degraded or contaminated and I bet they've seen more muck than a cambelt

Matt82 · 13 Apr 2006 at 20:52

merlin said:
This always makes me wonder. So the belt needs changing because it's old - and not because of the work it's done.

Right - so clearly these things age do they?

That case - I hope they give you a belt that's litterally just come out of the factory rather than giving you one off their shelves that might have been sat there for 12 months.

Ask the Audi specialists what they think - they may well say leave it till 45k or whatever.

rubber gets old

HTH

they also need tensioners that some "specialists" often forget.

it can cost a lot (on A4s) cos the whole front end has to come off.

Dandle · 13 Apr 2006 at 21:19

The belt on your car should be done at 55k miles(don't have an age spec here) and the book time for it to be done is 2.9hrs.

I wouldn't honestly think it would need to be done at four years though, belts normally have a life of between 7-10 yrs. Best to check though.